HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) TESTING REQUIREMENTS
FOR ENTRY INTO FOREIGN COUNTRIES
January 1996
An increasing number of countries require that foreigners be
tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prior to entry. This
is particularly true for students or long-term visitors. The
following list of country requirements is based on information
available as of December 1995 and is subject to change. Before
traveling abroad, check with the embassy of the country to be
visited to learn entry requirements and specifically whether or
not AIDS testing is a requirement. If the list indicates U.S. test
results are acceptable and the word Yes appears with an asterisk
beside it ("Yes*") in a particular country, prospective travelers
should inquire at the embassy of that country for details (i.e.,
which laboratories in the United States may perform tests and
where to have results certified and authenticated) before
departing the United States.
Country Test Required U.S. Test
For Accepted?
Australia All applicants for Yes*
permanent residence age
15 and over. All
other applicants who
require medical examinations
are tested if it is indicated
on clinical grounds.
Bahrain All principal applicants No
residency for permanent
residence
Belize All persons applying for Yes*
permits
Belarus All persons staying longer Yes
than 3 months
British Virgin Anyone staying more than 6 Yes
Islands months and applicants for
work permits
Bulgaria May be required for any No
foreigner staying longer
than one month for purposes
of study or work and all
intending immigrants
China, People's Those staying more than Yes*
Republic of 6 months
Colombia Anyone suspected of being HIV N/A
positive will not be admitted
Costa Rica Anyone applying for temporary Yes*
residency, study, or work
permits through a Costa Rican
consulate in the U.S. must
take a medical exam
(including the HIV test)
Cyprus All foreigners working No
or studying
Dominican
Republic Foreigners seeking residency No
Egypt All foreigners staying for Yes*
more than 30 days (spouses of
Egyptian nationals are exempt)
El Salvador All applicants for permanent No
residency over 18 years
Estonia Foreigners seeking Yes*
residency or work
permits
Germany, Federal Applicants for residence No
Republic of permits staying over 180
(Bavaria only) days in Bavaria
Greece Woman intending to work Yes*
in entertainment centers
Guatemala Those who plan to apply Yes*
for retiree status
Hungary Anyone staying over 1 year, Yes*
and all intending immigrants
(some employers may
require workers to be tested)
India All students over 18, anyone Test must be
between the ages of 18 and taken within
70 with a visa valid for one 30 days of
year or more and anyone arrival*
extending a stay to a year or
more, excluding accredited
journalists and those
working in foreign missions
Iraq All foreigners No
Kazakhstan All visitors, excluding Yes, but only if
diplomats, must present the test is taken
a certificate of an within month
HIV test within 10 days one of arrival*
arrival
Korea Foreigners working as Yes
entertainers staying over
90 days and foreign
athletes who are members
of Korean teams
Kuwait Those planning to obtain No
residence permits
Lebanon Those planning to live No*
or work
Latvia Those seeking residency Yes
permits. (Residency
permits are required
for stays over 90 days.)
Libya Those seeking residency Yes
permits, excluding official
visitors
Lithuania Applicants for permanent Yes*
residence permits
Malaysia Foreigners seeking work Yes*
permits in the following
categories: construction
and plantation workers,
and house maids
Marshall Islands, Temporary visitors staying Yes*
Republic of the more than 30 days, and
applicants for residence
permits
Mauritius Foreigners planning to work Yes*
or seek permanent residence
Mexico Applicants for permanent Yes*
residence visas
Micronesia Anyone staying over 90 Yes
(Federated days and anyone holding
States of) a work permit
Moldova Anyone staying over 90 days Yes
Montserrat University students and Yes*
applicants for work and
residency
Oman Those newly-employed by No
private sector companies
and upon renewal of work
permit
Panama Women intending to work No*
in entertainment centers
and anyone who adjusts
visa status once in Panama
for longer stays
Papua Anyone planning to work Yes
New Guinea or seeking residency
Paraguay Applicants for temporary Yes*
or permanent resident status
Philippines Applicants for permanent Yes
resident visas
Russia All foreign visitors No*
(legislation pending)
Saudi Arabia Applicants for Yes
residency/work permits
St. Kitts and Nevis Students, intending Yes*
immigrants and those
seeking employment
Singapore Workers who earn less No
than $945 per month
Slovakia Applicants for long term No
(over 30 days) visas
Syria Those seeking residency and No
anyone wishing to marry a
Syrian national in Syria
Taiwan Applicants for residency No*
and work permits. (Test
is also required for
anyone staying over 90 days)
Turks and Caicos Foreign workers (testing No
Islands is part of medical exam
that is required for
work permits)
United Arab Applicants for work or No, testing
Emirates residence permits performed
on arrival
Ukraine Anyone staying longer No
than 6 months and all
applicants for permanent
residency
Venezuela Applicants for residency Yes*
permits
*A test performed in the U.S. may be accepted under
certain conditions. Check with the embassy or
representative office in Washington, D.C. for detailed
requirements.
Prepared by the Bureau of Consular Affairs
Public Affairs and Policy Coordination Staff
Travel Publications